Plumeria are tropical flowers that you have to smell to believe, and it turns out you can enjoy them right on your patio if you learn from my mistakes!

Plumeria are tropical trees native to Central America and parts of Mexico and South America, but they've become synonymous with Hawaii and in tropical climates across the world. The plant has gorgeous huge leaves, but the flowers are truly unlike any other. Not only do they come in endless colors, but they're also incredibly fragrant.

Plumeria, also known as frangipani, are used for lei's in Hawaii and in perfumes around the world. The name "Plumeria" was in honor of the French botanist that described the plant when he explored Central America in the 17th century. "Frangipani" is the more common name to refer to these plants by in Central and South America (as well as Australia). The name is in honor of the Italian nobleman that created a perfume with a similar scent in the 16th century.

Plumeria aren’t commonly sold in our climate, but they are possibly the easiest tropical plant to keep inside the house over the winter because they go dormant! When the weather cools down and the days are shorter, plumeria stop growing and drop most of their leaves. In the tropics, they do this to conserve water during the dry season. It works out very well for northern growers because plumeria don't requite a lot of sun or water when they are dormant in the house over the wintertime. When they go outside in the spring, they rapidly push growth, and hopefully blooms!

In the tropics, these trees are as low maintenance as it gets, but they need some special attention to bloom up north. The flowers grow on a structure called an inflorescence on the middle of the branch. A single one of these can produce hundreds of flowers but they require several months of heat and sunshine to develop, and we don’t have that kind of time. Usually, a branch will only produce an inflorescence once every 2 years, so the fewer branches your plant has, the less likely it will bloom reliably.

It's worth spending extra money to select a plumeria variety that grows shorter and blooms in cooler weather. Typically varieties that work well for gardeners in Coastal California are more tolerant of cool weather and will bloom more reliably in our northern climate.

I've had a lot of luck growing varieties like "Jungle Jack's Divine" and "California Sunset". These compact growers produce buds very early in the season and are more likely to reach their full blooming potential in our climate.

Plumeria pudica, is an unusual species of Plumeria with arrow shaped leaves and much more frequent blooms. The only caveat is these blooms have no fragrance and will not come in special colors. Plumeria "Singapore Pink" could be an alternative to pudica for gardeners looking for a more fragrant option.

This beautiful plant is sure to make any gardener smile. Even when it's not in bloom, the giant leaves and thick stems are a conversation starter. Although it's not necessarily a great beginner plant, it's not challenging. I got my first plumeria when I was only a freshman in high school and it is alive to this day!

Although it can be tricky to get these plants to bloom in our climate, they still earn a spot on my patio. The blooms are just a bonus!